My valve cover has a vacuum leak and I have the new one to replace it. I just found the torque spec of 9 Ft-Lbs. The other question is Do I need to use a silicone sealant? I've had one person say just use a small dab on the corners, where the seal changes direction. The straight lines, even the gentle curves, like going around a bolt hole (according to him) are fine. Opinions?

 

Did you get a valve cover gaset? That is all you need. You don't need any sealer.

 

It came installed with the seal.

 

OK Got the valve cover in and the lost horsepower has returned. But I did want to post this one item regarding use of a sealant. My friend had recommended just using a generic high temp silicone sealant 'on the corners'. When I pulled the factory installed cover off, I saw what he meant. On the driver side of the engine, the edge the cover sits on rises up. Probably 85% of the sealing surface is on the same level. Right where it changes direction to rise up, the factory had put a small dab of sealant. Just a dab on each end. In examining the seal, it is shaped differently in those two spots. It switches from a single line/ring to a flat, ridged area about 3/8" long. So I filled the ridges and put a small dab, pencil eraser size, on the head surface.

Just figured I'd pass along the experience I had.

 

I'm curious why you think the car was losing horsepower due to a valve cover leak.

- Mark